Sudden loss, the kind that comes like a thief in the night and steals what is most precious to you, is life altering. I don't think that we as humans are ever fully ready to let go of someone but losing them in a brief second without any warning seems to hurt the most. It doesn't allow us to say goodbye. It doesn't allow us to have the conversations that provide comfort for both people. It does not allow us proper closure. We know there is a purpose to everything. We know that God has a plan in all of this tragic loss. It allows us to process but doesn't make it easy. We should grieve and that includes crying and maybe even wailing. But we must also celebrate that person's life because they were a child of God. Every life is important because our Creator gives it. I am reminded by the beautiful prayer that gives us perspective on living a full life but remembering that the ultimate goal is to live eternally with God in Heaven. Lord, teach me not to hold on to life too tightly. Teach me to take it as a gift. To enjoy it, to cherish it while I have it, but to let go gracefully and thankfully when the time comes. The gift is great but the Giver is greater still. You are the Giver and in You is a life that never ends. Amen. God bless the souls of Tim and Madonna Gautreau who tragically lost there lives yesterday.
I am just beginning to dive into the beautiful, ancient devotion to the Five Wounds of Jesus, and I wanted to share a bit of the journey with you. It can feel a little overwhelming at first to look at the Crucifix this closely, but I’ve found such a gentle guide in St. Bernard of Clairvaux . In his Jubilee Rhythm on the Passion, Bernard doesn't treat the wounds of Jesus as distant historical facts or sights to be avoided. Instead, he approaches them with the tenderness of a friend, speaking directly to the feet, hands, side, and face of our Lord. For someone like me who is just starting out, his rhythm teaches that prayer isn't just about reciting words; it’s a holy hide-and-seek. Bernard invites us to literally hide ourselves within these wounds, seeing them as clefts in the rock where we can find shelter when our own lives feel turbulent or heavy. As I start this process, I’ve been practicing what I call gazing and greeting. Following Bernard’s lead, I look at the Crucifix an...
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